【推荐2】Awe is generally defined as the sense that you are in the presence of (在……面前) something larger and more consequential(重要的) than yourself. According to a study called “awe walks”, people who took a fresh look at the world around them during brief, weekly walks felt more upbeat and hopeful in general than walkers who did not. Feeling a sense of awe also seems to up our overall feelings of gladness and improve health.

Previous studies have linked increased physical activity to greater happiness and reduced risks for anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses. But no studies had looked into whether mixing awe and activity might increase the benefits of or, on the other hand, reduce them. So, for the new study, scientists concentrated on people in their 60s, 70s and 80s, an age when some people can face risks for declining mental health.

The scientists asked 52 study volunteers to add a weekly 15-minute walk to their normal schedules. All of them were physically healthy and psychologically well-adjusted, with little anxiety or depression. Then they were randomly divided into two groups. One, as a control group, was asked to start walking, preferably outside, but given few other requirements. The other group was not only asked to walk once a week, but also were instructed in how to cultivate awe as they walked. “Basically, we told them to try to go and walk somewhere new, since novelty helps to cultivate awe,” says Virginia Sturm, an associate professor who led the new study.

Both groups were asked to take a few selfies (自拍) during their walks and upload them to a lab website and also complete a daily online assessment of their current mood. After eight weeks, the scientists compared the groups’ responses and photos. Not surprisingly, the awe walkers felt happier, less upset and more socially connected than the control group members.

The findings are subjective, though, since awe, like other emotions, is difficult to quantify, but Dr. Sturm thinks awe walks could be a simple thing for small wonders without any downside.

【推荐3】Since the end of 2019, a terrible disease has been spreading all over the world. It’s caused by a virus that has not been found before in humans.     1    .

What are the symptoms?

The virus is from a family called the corona viruses. The symptoms of this illness are pretty ordinary on the face of it: it’s dry cough, fever and then breathing problems.     2    . However, as for the more severe cases, people have gone on to develop viral (病毒性的) pneumonia, and all the deaths have been among those people.

Who does this virus attack?

As we can see, older people are ending up in hospital with the virus. Most of the affected people are usually over 40 years old.     3     Basically their immune (免疫) systems are not very strong, and they’re going to find it very hard to fight off a virus.

    4    .

We’ve only just discovered that the new corona virus is actually spread from one person to another. It was hoped at first actually that it just came from animals as all corona viruses do.     5    .

【推荐1】New York factories in the early 1900s were busy and dangerous places to work. Most factories were housed in brick buildings that were overly hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter. Workers at the time often worked more than 12 hours each day, receiving few breaks and no overtime pay. The floors were crowded with people and equipment, and the doors were often locked to prevent employees from leaving early. In fact, most factory owners and managers mistreated those who asked for changes or directly fired them. The people in charge believed that they did not owe anything more than a paycheck to their workers.

Everything changed when a fire broke out at the Triangle shirtwaist factory in 1911. During that tragic event, about a quarter of the workers (mostly young immigrant women) lost their lives. The factory workers, located on the ninth floor of the building, could not get the door open. The fire escape led only to flames below. The fire truck ladders were not long enough, nor were the water hoses (水管). Fire nets were inadequate.

After the fire, people marched and protested in order to change conditions in factories. Many large protests took place in New York. Eventually, politicians took up the cause, and legislators (立法者) passed workplace laws regulating child labor and the number of workers allowed on a floor. They also called for sprinkler systems (自动喷水系统) to be placed in all factories. The rights of workers were important and valuable.

Today, working in a factory is still a demanding, difficult, and often dangerous job. The victims of the Triangle shirtwaist factory did not die in vain, however. Because of their experience, the workplace was forever changed for the better.

【推荐2】Nearly two years after the COVID-19 outbreak, China has granted approval to its first antibody combination treatment for COVID-19.

A team from Brii Biosciences, Tsinghua University, and the People’s Hospital of Shenzhen has accomplished the task in 20 months. It would usually takes 10 years. “It can reduce the rate of hospitalization and death by 80 percent,” said Zhang Linqi, leader of the research team.

The new antibody drug is immediately effective when conducted intravenously (静脉注射). Moreover, the treatment can protect people, especially those whose physical condition doesn’t allow vaccination, from becoming infected by COVID-19 for around nine to 12 months, said Zhang. How does it work? When a virus infects a cell, it relies on an important type of protein: the spike proteins on its surface. The spike proteins serve as a key to unlocking a cell. If a virus cannot enter a cell, it will be destroyed immediately. The job of our antibodies is to block the virus from entering cells. So its target is very precise. In addition, thanks to the coordination between the two antibodies, it is highly efficient and durable in controlling the virus, according to Zhang.

Lab tests suggest that the antibody combination can be effective against common COVID-19 variants, including the Alpha, Beta, Delta, Lambda and Mu. Testing with the newer Omicron strain is ongoing. The qualities of the new drug make it especially useful for high-risk groups, such as frontline medical workers and people who are not suitable for vaccination due to various possible health problems.

The new drug is expected to come to the market soon, but it’s not cheap. That’s because of limited production. Also, it typically must be administered intravenously in a hospital setting.

Noting that China has used science and technology to fight COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak, Zhang said: “Science is the core to solving the issue. Science has shown its power in all sectors, from medical treatment, medicine and vaccine development to prevention and control measures.”

【推荐3】The following picture books are a wonderful way to improve the summer experience with kids.

♦ Vampirina at the Beach by Anne Marie Pace

Vampirina and her best monster friend head to the beach during the full moon on a perfect summer night to enjoy all the fun and festivities the beach has to offer. Along the way, Vampirina’s beach adventures highlight the importance of beach safety to ensure a heroic adventure for all.

Available from Amazon, $11.50

♦ Summer by Alice Low

Summer brings so many things to a spirited boy, an eager girl, and an excited little dog. The season is filled with adventure. With clever rhyming words, clever phrasing, and playful images, children will love following along as this energetic trio (三重唱) takes in all the sunshine, big beach waves, fireworks, and sweet treats of this truly memorable time of year.

Available from Amazon, $6.23

♦ Waiting for Pumpsie by Barry Wittenstein

Summer is the season of baseball, and there’s no better way to celebrate summer than with the true story of Pumpsie Green’s rise from the minors to the Boston Red Sox in 1959. As the final major league team to include black athletes, young Bernard and his family travel to Fenway Park to witness Pumpsie Green take the field in this inspirational tale of equality and progress.

Available from Amazon, $9.61

♦ The Night Before Summer Camp by Natasha Wing

Sure, camp sounds fun, but when you don’t quite know what to expect, it’s only natural to feel a little nervous away from Mom and Dad. With rhyming prose (散文) and cheerful illustrations (插图), this cheering story of an unwilling boy who comes to enjoy all the fun summer camp will have children ready to take on their own camp adventure!

Available from Amazon, $3.52